Partners Eastern Health and Social Services Council

Organisation: Eastern Health and Social Services Council

Description:
The Eastern Health and Social Services Council (EHSSC) is an independent organisation established in 1991. It is made up of 30 unpaid members appointed with the approval of the Minister responsible for the DHSSPS. Members are local people drawn from local government, voluntary and community organisations and other interested groups.

The Council, supported by a small number of staff:

• provides information and advice about H&SS issues to members of the public;

• does not investigate complaints but gives accurate and impartial advice, information and help on the options open to complainants, advising how to make a complaint, who to complain to, how to get medical or legal advice;

• monitors the quality of local services;

• works with local groups to help them give their opinions on H&SS;

• carries out independent surveys to find out what the public thinks about services.

The Council has the following legal rights:

§ to enter and inspect H&SS facilities;

§ to have formal meetings with the EHSSB;

§ to receive any information that it needs to do its job;

§ to be consulted by the EHSSB on any major developments or changes in services, representing the public's interests in responding to such consultation.

Contact name: Richard Dixon, Chief Officer

Address:
1st Floor
McKelvey House
25-27 Wellington Place
Belfast

Postcode: BT1 6GQ

Tel: (028) 9032 1230 or tie-line 71-216–0

Fax: (028) 9032 1750

Email: ecouncil@ehssc.n-i.nhs.uk

Website: www.ehssc.org

Sector (statutory, voluntary, community, other): Statutory

Area of interest/expertise: Health and social services consumerism

Mission statement:
The Council’s aim is to seek to represent the views, opinions and interests of users of health and social services in the EHSSB area, make public services more responsive to users’ and carers’ needs, give the public an opportunity to influence decisions that are made on their behalf, act for the public to improve the range, type and quality of services.